We love
having all of our stuff with us, but we hate the stress that comes with checking
a big bag. You have to arrive at the airport early to wait in line and pay
dearly for the honour of checking it. Then you worry about it getting lost,
damaged or pilfered. Then you wait… and wait… and wait for it at the luggage
carousel. Then you do it all again.

Since few
of us can afford personal sherpas, here are my seven time- and road-tested tips
for travelling with luggage:

Investigate your airline’s baggage feesChecked bag
fees, which are in a constant state of flux, vary by airline, route and class
of service. Economy passengers on most intra-European flights are allowed one
free checked bag, but in the US all airlines except JetBlue and Southwest charge
a $25 fee for the first checked bag. In May, most US-based airlines began
charging transatlantic economy passengers $60 to $75 for the second checked bag.
Though the first bag is still free, several airlines decreased the maximum
weight for checked luggage from 70 lbs to 50 lbs each, with fees in the $75- to
$90-range for exceeding that limit. Business, first class and elite members of
airline loyalty programs are generally allowed to check two bags without
charge. Also, some baggage fees are waived or reimbursed when buying airline
tickets on certain credit cards. Since there is little uniformity around
baggage fees, check your airline’s policy before you pack.

Learn to live out of a carry-onYou don’t have to bring everything you own with you. Pack
enough neutral, mix-and-match clothing for two or three days. There will most
likely be laundry services at your destination, which cost less than the $25 to
$35 you often pay to check a bag. And you can also buy extra clothing or
accessories when you arrive. Keep in mind, allowable carry-on sizes vary from airline to airline. For
example, European low cost carrier Ryanair allows each passenger a single carry-on
no larger than 55cm by 40cm by 20cm, which is smaller than the standard 56cm by
45cm by 25cm suggested by the International Air Transport Association. Follow some of these other tips for travelling
with only a carry-on.

Consider shipping your bagShipping
baggage in the US can reduce the hassle and cost of checking it with an airline.
Rates
are based on weight and distance, which means it might be cheaper to ship than
check if you are travelling from Los Angeles to Denver. But if you are
travelling from Los Angeles to New York, checking a bag might be the least
expensive option. For the best rates, ship your bag at least five days before
your trip (to get ground vs air rates) and be sure that there’s a safe place
for it to wait for you at your destination.

Assume your bag will be lost or delayedSometimes
there’s no getting around the need to check a bag. When doing so, always assume
that your checked bag will be delayed or lost. That means never pack anything
in checked luggage that you cannot live without for at least 24 to 48 hours (your
toilet kit, prescription drugs, glasses, clothing for your first day). Luckily
when bags do go astray, airlines are doing a better job of tracking them. Delta
Air Lines now allows passenger to track luggage online in the same way that shipping
companies let customers know where packages are every step of the way.

Don’t check valuablesNever pack
valuable items in checked luggage since airline contracts specifically state that
they assume no liability for the loss, damage or theft
of items like jewellery, electronics, cameras, computers or cash. If it’s
valuable, put it in your carry-on bag, or leave it at home.

Know the rulesRules
around mishandled, lost or damaged bags vary around the world. New US passenger rights laws going into effect in August require
airlines to refund checked baggage fees only if the airline loses your bag
forever, which is rare and each airline has a different definition for how long
“forever” is. If it’s just delayed and the bag is eventually returned to you, airlines
are currently not required to refund the fee. If your bag is lost forever, in Europe or the US you’ll be compensated based on the depreciated value of the declared
contents. Outside of the US and Europe, lost bags are governed by the Montreal
convention, which offers compensation based on the weight, not the stated value,
of the bag.

Consider insuranceIf losing
baggage scares you, consider buying supplemental lost baggage insurance from
the airline, travel agent or your credit card. This differs from the several
other types of insurance you might buy before travelling. These policies
typically cover the cost of replacing the contents of lost luggage, and they
will also reimburse expenses related to delays. If you check something of great
value (for example a wedding dress or tuxedo), airlines offer “excess
valuation” coverage at the ticket counter for $2 to $3 for each $100 in
declared value.